Well, what an entertaining game that was.
The headline score makes it seem close, but the reality is we could have had a boat-load of goals today, if it wasn’t for Max O’Leary playing an absolute blinder. He made that many close range and reaction saves that I lost count.
Hourihane spurned three chances before he finally managed to score.
This was another very good performance against a decent side, although I have to say I don’t think City offered much.
Lee Johnson quite rightly pointed out that City would have an advantage in having an extra day’s rest and I think he was right, as we did look a little leggy.
The only blot for me today was Elmohamady, who seemed to give the ball away more often than not, but it’s hard to criticise anyone when we’ve just won eight games on the trot for the first time since 1975.
The big concern today was how we would get on without Jack Grealish and while I think we missed him, we created loads of chances and scoring goals doesn’t look to be a problem. We maintained our average of 2 goals a game at home.
Even rusty Keinan Davies was unlucky and should have scored.
Given that I think we looked a little tired at times (albeit still playing well), I think the squad is going to come into play more and more as the games keep coming.
Even though we looked light in the centre of defence on paper, it proved to not be so and Jedinak did well.
Special mention should be made about Jed Steer.
I think he looks very confident when the ball is played back to him quickly and he distributes very well, even when under serious pressure.
That surely has to instill confidence in our defenders and no doubt has played a big part in the way we play at the back.
Well done lads and the Villa train keeps on rolling.
UTV!
That’s me set up for a very good weekend 🙂
I’ve just realised I got the score right too.
I should have had a score on it 😉
If that doesn’t fill the team with confidence then nothing will.
Still got Jack, Mings, Kodjia, to come back too. I think our squad will get us there. I can’t see any of the contenders around us winning all their games, they’re just too flaky. I honestly think that if we beat Bolton and Millwall then we’ll be there.
However, this is the Championship and anything can and will happen. Still we’re in with a chance and we couldn’t have foreseen that only ten games ago or so.
COYL
Well done lads. After the draw with Stoke in February I told my son that our only hope for playoffs was to win our last 12 games. He looked at me dejected and said so we wont make playoffs then. To give him some hope I told him that in football anything is possible even though based on our performances at the time i didnt think it was remotely possible. What a turn around. Hopefully two wins from last 4 will see us over the line.
Bolton will be fighting for their lives, but we ought to win that one.
Milwall will possibly be safe by then, although we always find them a tough proposition.
And neither Norwich or Leeds scare me at the moment.
Bring them all on, for a grand total of 81 points.
Well, possibly a bit optimistic, but I suspect we’ll look back at this season as “if only” and we’d have easily made the top two.
Forget the ‘if onlys’ we should just be thankful that we’ve finally got a bunch of lads that we can be proud of, led by a Villa man through and through. We had to go through what we did to get where we are. I think we’re lucky that we didn’t have to go via Div 1 like Wolves and Sunderland.
We always said it would take time and it did but now everyone in the team knows what Dean wants and that they can do it. Really hopeful now
Yes, fair point.
To think we were right in proverbial street less than a year ago proves how well we’ve done.
For me a lot of it is down to our new owners. They’ve put their hands in their pockets, they’ve picked the right management team and they have shown patience. I’d guess that this has taken some of the pressure off Dean and the lads.
They are obviously shrewd men as, if we get back into the Prem and stay there, how much will their investment be worth then? However, I would love them to stick with the club and see where we can really go.
We can hope now like we haven’t been able to since MON left.
Lest we forget!
We could have been in administration facing points deduction and League 1
The best steel is forged in the hottest fire.
The future’s bright, the future is Villa.
Supporting Villa really does put a strain on the old heart.
Two months ago I really thought it was all over. Now we go on an incredible run of results. More over, we see an attacking style. It’s got me thinking of the best of Villa I’ve seen in many years – Saunders, Atkinson, Little and Gregory.
I really feel like I am on cloud nine. Whatever happens over the next 4 to 7 matches Smith’s style of play is becoming part of our DNA. I can’t and won’t speculate on the last four league matches. I just want to see more of Smith’s style of play.
This is one happy Villa fan loving UTV.
“Supporting Villa really does put a strain on the old heart.”
Sid you are so right. However, I’m welcoming it now as not long ago I thought it would be a dull end to the season in mid-table. Just off to check my blood pressure 🙂
But that’s what makes the Championship so exciting Sid.
What a massive difference to the frankly boring procession that is the Prem.
But we still want to be promoted Badger!
Is that an oxymoron?
It is Hitch.
Sadly it’s where the money and coverage is, as well as the only route to the top.
It’s a shame really, as the skill level apart, the championship is much better to watch and could attract more worldwide fans if it was promoted the way the Prem is, imo.
No argument from me Badger.
Villa should be in the Prem; their heritage demands it but it’s such an artificial construct driven by money and the unfair favouritism directed towards the ‘Sky Six’.
What do you want – a perpetual fight in the bottom half of the Prem or a similar experience in the top echelons of the Championship?
Wonderful win today. Can’t praise the players and coaching staff enough. Incredibly, after 8 wind on the trot, it’s still tighter than the proverbial duck’s back passage up there.
Anyway, Hitch and Badger, I understand your issues with the PL, but didn’t the Sky 6 used to be the Sky 4? And didn’t a lesser club than Aston Villa recently win that league two years after being promoted and one year after miraculously escaping the trap door? My point is this: with good coaches, good players, and sensible investment, there is no reason why Aston Villa can’t compete in the PL. That’s not to mention a healthy dose of ambition. For me, the Sky 6 line is an excuse for loser clubs with no ambition.
First things first though. Got to secure playoffs and win the thing!
Fair comment BFR and we do potentially have owners with sufficient financial clout to propel the club forward.
I fear another season of losing after experiencing the joy of winning but I can’t deny that I want us to secure promotion whatever that may hold. The Prem is where we rightfully belong – time to demonstrate our pedigree.
UTV
Don’t get me wrong, BFR.
I have no doubt we’ll be able to compete in the Prem, if we were to be promoted.
We have more resources than most.
The way things have played out just sicken me.
To think we were at least on a par with Arsenal and Spurs not so long back 🙁
Still, that suggests we have some god given right to be up there.
I don’t quite believe that, but we are a massive club.
Yet it’ll take a massive leap before we compete at the top end.
Leicester was a one-off and my point is it shouldn’t be like that.
Yes Badger we could make slow but steady progress under these owners, and I am sure under Deano if we returned to the Premiership.
Villa fell away more than West Ham or Everton, but those two clubs could certainly compare their pedigrees with Chelsea and Man City. All four were clubs with more famous neighbours. Two were lucky in attracting oligarchs before FFP, West Ham and Everton weren’t.
Villa now have owners who are amongst the very few who could compete with the money clubs – if they chose to do so.
Self preservation by destroying rivals has always been the name of the game. Buying stars you do not need because you have cover for them but your rivals will be damaged by their depature kept Man Utd at the top table.
Villa’s other advantage is they are the most famous club in a big city. It isn’t fanciful to suggest that if the Hammers can fill the London stadium then Villa armed with a team who could compete for best of the rest could fill a greatly expanded or new stadium.
There will be at least six yo-yo clubs. At the moment the interesting question is: Can Bournemouth and Watford avoid joining them?
All for the future, let’s enjoy a team that deserves to be compared with those of Saunders and Atkinson, Little and Gray, Morley and Withe.
Just got back after another pulsating performance. When I got to VP and saw the team sheet I admit my heart sank quite a bit. No Mings and Hause I was prepared for… but no Grealish or Kodja and I was concerned. I needn’t have worried though because we were excellent again. First half we were okay without the final touches but second half we bullied them and should have been out of sight before their goal. After that we were still the team more likely to score.
Atmosphere was superb in the holte and they got behind the team throughout, even after their goal the fans rallied behind the team when previously they would have groaned. Dean Smiths claret and blue army march on and whoever we meet should fear us now.
Also a mention to Taylor who was excellent again and looks like a totally different player to the one a couple of months ago.
Agreed, Holte.
He’s really beginning to find his feet now.
Still a weak link for me, but he’s definitely improving.
I have to admire the creation to go forwards, the inter passing to beat players, and the long crossing of a ball, we are seeing football again, it also woken up the media and all eyes are on Villa.24 points in 8 games is a wonderful achievements for the club, if only some of them draws was wins but hey I’m on top of the world with what we’ve done. Let’s keep it going.
What has impressed me Bill was our passing game. Even from defence there was no panic and a determination to play the ball out. Tuanzebe got caught out early on but persevered and did well. As for Whelan, I was slating him earlier on in the season but he was immense today and the fans were rightly singing his name alongside McGinn who I’m beginning to think isn’t human! We should rename him Steve Austin the sixty million dollar man!
Holte66, cannot fault that, I was the same with Whelan didn’t rate him couldnt understand why we got him, but I’m with you on how he’s part of the team, same with Albert , votes out on him at the minute not convinced yet he’s wanted.but what a game today,
On the Prem I can remember when Liverpool were an average Division 2 team, for decades Man City were total dross, Spurs were a joke and even Man U got relegated.
It may be the Top 6 now but it’s not carved in stone. I see no reason why, given time and some money, we can’t join them. That’s what we should be aiming for, not just survival, not just mid-table but the top.
Don’t see why we shouldn’t at least have a shot. We are Villa.
Watching us play now, its hard to work out on what went so badly wrong after Christmas! Without Grealish, we we were able to make some great chances, and as you said, we could have scored 5 or 6!
I have to say in the back of my mind last year, there was a nagging doubt of what would happen if we did go up. With Bruce in charge, I was worried that a return to the top flight may end in disaster! Needeless to say, I dont have this same feeling with Smith! I would love to see what he could do with money to spend!
The playoffs are going to be tough, but with a full squad and this run of form, I wouldnt bet against us!
It could be also that Villa are a fair weather team. I have an impression – which may be wrong, I would be interested to know what you think – that during the worst of winter conditions Villa’s performances dip. In autumn and spring we are better and this has been true for several seasons.
If that’s the case, then the addition of some some Northern Steel may well be what we’ve been lacking. It does seem to have been the case that we’ve been a bunch of pansies on and off for the last few seasons… Bring on the sun! With the onset of global warming, if your theory is correct, we can only get better!!!
all teams go through low points, ours at christmas was i bet caused by many factors. losing grealish didnt help, but also tuanzebe was a major factor. players in the team didn’t work together like they are now, to fill the gaps or skills that the missing players left. also smith tactics style of play wasn’t sucken into our game. he had instant success when he came. but all clubs seem to have the initial raise of form when a new manager comes. maybe everybody is trying to please him and the team click. but after a while that initial fear good factor disappears. either by a few bad performances or injuries.
we wasn’t bad at christmas we just missed a cutting edge. nobody except mcginn really picked up the ball and drove into the opposition. yesterday i was well impress with el ghazi, he did just that and tore massive holes in the city defence. now if he can continue to play like that and mcginn and grealish continue their games we are very hard to contain
No coincidence that we do better with a ‘Villa fan’ in charge!
Ron Atkinson
John Gregory
Brian Little
Dean Smith
Dean Smith is proving to be an exceptional coach. The improvement in players such as Taylor, Elmo, Whelan is quite incredible! At long last we have got a system where players just ‘slot in’ when needed. That is vital when players miss out because of injuries/suspensions and loss of form! I sense a ‘togetherness’ that I’ve not witnessed for many a year! The result and performance at Rotherham exemplifies the togetherness perfectly! If the season started now I have no doubt that we would be in the automatic promotion places. I particularly like the way that we keep going forward like yesterday after Bristol City scored. Better than retreating and handing the impetus to the opposition!
Even If we dont go up, I dont see JG leaving (I think DS already knows this and gave him the captaincy with that in mind). Keep JG, McGinn and sign Mings, Hause and El Ghazi and we’ll walk promotion next season. May even keep Tammy for another season if necessary!
The fans are onside with the way we now approach games! Its entertaining and successful and the reason for increased attendances. There are only 3000 seats left for the Millwall game and only 700 for the final game against Norwich! We had the best crowd for a 3pm kick off in England yesterday!
We are now starting to look like the ‘massive’ club that we are! At long last we now seem to be getting it right both on and off the pitch!
We are Villa, we are back and we are coming for YOU! ‘Would you dare to bet against us’?
Just finished watching Wigan v Norwich a 1-1 draw.
Norwich had the possession but strangely lacked a cutting edge. Wigan actually had the better chances and could easily have won.
Just an illustration of how hard to predict this league is.
Norwich might just think they’re home and dry. Will they come to us with their holiday bags packed, wearing sun glasses and bathers 🙂
Or alternatively we could face Leeds and Norwich both chasing top spot 🙁
Fabulous win yesterday though, and we are looking good.
Looking at our competition for a play off place, realistically it’s between Villa, Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Derby for the last two places. If we can make it 10 out of 10 then I think we will have done enough. With the games our challengers face it looks unlikely that they will collate enough points to push us out of the top six. Bolton and Millwall are typical banana skin games but we mustn’t let our levels drop because momentum into the playoffs could be vital. If we can remain unbeaten till the end of the season then we will be the team they will all want to avoid.
that norwich draw lost me my bet, can’t beat pie eaters and you are top of the table. don’t fancy them for a long stay in the promise land. straight back to championship lets be havin you
A bit like the 3 due for the drop from the EPL…